Refractory anchor device and system

Abstract

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body has the shape of two end-to-end Y's forming a central segment, two branch segments extending from each end of the central segment, and an extension segment extending from each of the four branch segments, to collectively form four unenclosed cell openings that are each semi-hexagonal in shape. Some embodiments include four reinforcement segments with each one extending into a respective cell opening, four voids with each one extending through respective adjacent branch and extension segments, an underbody gap formed under the central segment for refractory interlinking between cell openings, and/or a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed semi-hexagonal cell openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An anchoring device for a refractory material for lining a thermal vessel, the anchoring device comprising:
 a main body having the shape of two “Y”s arranged end-to-end and including a central segment and four branch segments extending from the central segment with a first pair of the branch segments extending from a first part of the central segment and with a second opposite pair of the branch segments extending from a second part of the central segment that is spaced apart from the first part, wherein the four branch segments are each angled with respect to the central segment at an obtuse angle to form four unenclosed cell openings between them including two opposite central openings and two opposite end openings, wherein the two opposite central openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape, wherein the main body further includes four extension segments with each one extending from a respective one of the four branch segments, wherein the four extension segments are each angled relative to their respective branch segments at an obtuse angle to define portions of the two opposite end openings such that the two opposite end openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape, and wherein each of the extension segments has a respective free end opposite from its respective branch segment; and 
 a mounting element adapted to mount the main body to the thermal vessel so that the anchoring device can be mounted to the thermal vessel with its extension segment free ends spaced apart from an adjacent anchoring device that is separately mounted to the thermal vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal vessel is of a type used in an oil refinery, another petrochemical-process facility, a chemical-process facility, a chemical-manufacturing plant, a cement plant, or another industrial facility for performing an industrial process in a high-temperature and caustic environment, and wherein the refractory material includes concrete, plastics, ceramics, another conventional refractory, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body further includes four reinforcement segments with each one extending into a respective one of the four unenclosed cell openings so that each of the four unenclosed cell openings has a respective reinforcement segment extending into it. 
     
     
       4. The anchoring device of  claim 3 , wherein each reinforcement segment extends from a respective one of the four branch segments, wherein the reinforcement segments are in addition to the branch segments and do not define any portion of the four unenclosed openings. 
     
     
       5. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body has at least one bottom surface that defines a base portion and an elevated portion that is elevated relative to the base portion to form an underbody gap between the main body bottom surface and the vessel, wherein the underbody gap allows the refractory to flow under the anchor when the anchor is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
     
     
       6. The anchoring device of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the base portion is at an outer end of one of the branch segments, at least a portion of the elevated portion is on the respective central segment, and the bottom surface further includes a transition portion extending between the base and elevated portions. 
     
     
       7. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body defines at least one void that extends through and along at least a portion of one of the branch segments, and wherein the body void allows the refractory to flow through the anchor main body when the anchor is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
     
     
       8. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle between each extension segment and the respective branch segment is the same as the obtuse angle between each branch segment and the central segment, so that the extension segments are parallel to the central segment, and so that all four of the unenclosed openings have a same semi-hexagonal shape. 
     
     
       9. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the branch segments has a length that is substantially the same as a length of the central segment, and each of the extension segments has a length that is about half the length of the central and branch segments, wherein each of the four unenclosed cell openings has a same semi-hexagonal area. 
     
     
       10. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body defines at least one void that extends through and along at least one of the branch segments and at least one of the respective extension segments, and wherein the body void allows the refractory to flow through the anchor main body when the anchor is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
     
     
       11. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body has at least one bottom surface that defines a base portion on one of the extension segments, an elevated portion on the central segment and elevated relative to the base portion, and a ramped transition portion on the respective branch segment extending between the base and elevated portions, to form an underbody gap between the main body bottom surface and the thermal vessel along the central segment and at least a portion of the respective branch segment, wherein the underbody gap allows the refractory to flow under the anchoring device when the anchoring device is mounted to the thermal vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
     
     
       12. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body defines at least one flow passageway through which the refractory flows when the anchor is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed to interconnect the refractory in adjacent of the openings, wherein the flow passageway comprises at least one body void formed through the main body, underbody gap formed at a bottom surface of the main body, or both. 
     
     
       13. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting element includes a stud-welding stud defining a recess for receiving a pilot interface element, wherein the stud extends from the central segment of the anchor main body. 
     
     
       14. The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body and the mounting element are made of a single component piece of a metal material that is formed by casting into a one-piece part, wherein the anchoring device includes no clinching mechanisms to fasten multiple parts together. 
     
     
       15. The anchoring device of  claim 14 , wherein the main body further includes two extension segments each extending from a respective one of the four branch segments and diagonally opposite each other, wherein the extension segments are each angled relative to their respective branch segments at an obtuse angle to define portions of the two opposite end openings such that the two opposite end openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape, and wherein each of the extension segments has a respective free end opposite from its respective branch segment. 
     
     
       16. An anchoring device for a refractory material for lining a thermal vessel, the anchoring device comprising:
 a main body having the shape of two “Y”s arranged end-to-end and including a central segment and four branch segments extending from the central segment with a first pair of the branch segments extending from a first part of the central segment and with a second opposite pair of the branch segments extending from a second part of the central segment that is spaced apart from the first part, wherein the four branch segments are each angled with respect to the central segment at an obtuse angle to form four unenclosed cell openings between them including two opposite central openings and two opposite end openings, wherein the two opposite central openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape, wherein the main body further includes at least one extension segment extending from at least one of the four branch segments; and 
 a mounting element adapted to mount the main body to the thermal vessel, wherein the main body defines at least one void that extends through and along the at least one extension segment and the respective branch segment, and wherein the body void allows the refractory to flow through the anchor main body when the anchor is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
 
     
     
       17. The anchoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one void comprises four body voids with each body void extending through a respective one of the extension segments and the adjacent branch segment so that the body voids extend continuously through and along the angles between the extension and branch segments. 
     
     
       18. An anchoring device for a refractory material for lining a thermal vessel, the anchoring device comprising:
 a main body having the shape of two “Y”s arranged end-to-end and including a central segment and four branch segments extending from the central segment with a first pair of the branch segments extending from a first part of the central segment and with a second opposite pair of the branch segments extending from a second part of the central segment that is spaced apart from the first part, wherein the four branch segments are each angled with respect to the central segment at an obtuse angle to form four unenclosed cell openings between them including two opposite central openings and two opposite end openings, wherein the two opposite central openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape, wherein the main body further includes at least one extension segment extending from at least one of the four branch segments; and 
 a mounting element adapted to mount the main body to the thermal vessel, wherein the main body has at least one bottom surface that defines a base portion on the at least one extension segment, an elevated portion on the central segment and elevated relative to the base portion, and a ramped transition portion on the respective branch segment extending between the base and elevated portions, to form an underbody gap between the main body bottom surface and the thermal vessel, wherein the underbody gap allows the refractory to flow under the anchoring device when the anchoring device is mounted to the vessel and the refractory is being installed. 
 
     
     
       19. The anchoring device of  claim 18 , wherein the body void and the underbody gap laterally overlap or ends thereof are in vertical alignment. 
     
     
       20. An anchoring device for a refractory material for lining a thermal vessel, the anchoring device comprising:
 a main body having the shape of two “Y”s arranged end-to-end and including a central segment and four branch segments extending from the central segment with a first pair of the branch segments extending from a first part of the central segment and with a second opposite pair of the branch segments extending from a second part of the central segment that is spaced apart from the first part, wherein the four branch segments are each angled with respect to the central segment at an obtuse angle to form four unenclosed cell openings between them including two opposite central openings and two opposite end openings, and wherein the two opposite central openings are each semi-hexagonal in shape; and 
 a mounting element adapted to mount the main body to the thermal vessel, wherein the mounting element includes a stud-welding stud that extends from the central segment of the anchor main body and defines a recess at a free end opposite from the central segment of the anchor main body, wherein the stud recess is configured to receive a pilot interface element, and wherein the anchoring device can be mounted to the thermal vessel in a position spaced apart from an adjacent anchoring device that is separately mounted to the thermal vessel, 
 
       wherein the main body and the mounting element are made of a single component piece of a metal material that is formed by casting into a one-piece part, wherein the anchoring device includes no clinching mechanisms to fasten multiple parts together.